Governor Beshear to Join Kentucky SHAPE in Honoring Dr. Lonnie Davis with 2026 Mary Ann Miller Thrive Award

Kentucky SHAPE is proud to announce that the 2026 Mary Ann Miller Thrive Award will be presented posthumously to Dr. Lonnie Davis during the Opening General Session of the Kentucky SHAPE Summer Conference on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Tate’s Creek High School in Lexington.

Established to recognize individuals whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact on the health, wellness, and success of Kentucky’s students, schools, and communities, the Mary Ann Miller Thrive Award honors those whose influence extends beyond a single profession or organization.

Few individuals embody that spirit more than Dr. Lonnie Davis.

For more than five decades, Dr. Davis dedicated his life to advancing health and physical education throughout the Commonwealth. Serving in numerous leadership roles, including Executive Director of KAHPERD, now Kentucky SHAPE, he mentored generations of educators, championed student wellness, and helped build one of the nation’s strongest state associations for health and physical education professionals.

Dr. Davis was previously recognized with the Walter Mustaine Award, Kentucky SHAPE’s highest honor for service to the profession and association. Throughout his career, he not only received the organization’s most prestigious recognition but also had the privilege of presenting the Walter Mustaine Award to countless leaders who followed in his footsteps.

Earlier this year, the Kentucky SHAPE Board of Directors voted unanimously to permanently rename its annual Future Professionals Conference as the Lonnie Davis Future Professional Conference. This designation ensures that future generations of health and physical educators will continue to learn about and be inspired by his lifelong commitment to leadership, service, mentorship, and professional excellence.

“Lonnie’s impact on Kentucky SHAPE and the health and physical education profession cannot be measured simply by the positions he held or the awards he received,” said Robin Walker, Kentucky SHAPE Past President and current SHAPE America President. “His true legacy lives on through the generations of educators he mentored, the students they serve, and the healthier schools and communities that exist because of his leadership across Kentucky and the nation. The Mary Ann Miller Thrive Award is a fitting recognition of a life dedicated to helping others thrive.”

Family members, past presidents, colleagues, former students, and friends from across the Commonwealth are expected to join Kentucky SHAPE members in celebrating Dr. Davis’s extraordinary legacy.

The Opening General Session and award presentation will be livestreamed through the Kentucky SHAPE Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.

Kentucky SHAPE extends its deepest gratitude to the Davis family and to all those whose lives have been touched by Dr. Lonnie Davis’s enduring commitment to health, physical education, and the success of Kentucky’s students.

⏰ Just 4 Days Left to Register for the 2026 Kentucky SHAPE Summer Conference! ⏰

REGISTRATION DEADLINE Friday June 19th! 

https://kyshape.org/2026-conference/